Means for mounting fluorescent lamp starter switch and cover



@fit 3967 R. c. KEMBER ETAL 3,345,451

MEANS FOR MOUNTING FLUORESCENT LAMP STARTER SWITCH AND COVER Filed Sept. 25, 1964 Fig].

RAYMOND CHARLES KEMBER JAMES GEOFFREY ALLISON l7- nLl E E2; INVENTORS I L H ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,345,451 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 3,345,451 MEANS FOR MOUNTING FLUORESCENT LAMP STARTER SWITCH AND COVER Raymond Charles Kember and James G. Allison, London, England, assignors to Thorn Electrical Industries Limited, London, England Filed Sept. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 399,139 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 27, 1963, 38,252/ 63 2 Claims. (Cl. 174-52) The present invention relates to an improved light fitting for fluorescent tubular lamps.

The light fittings for supporting fluorescent tubular lamps normally include a channel-section member within which is disposed the starter switch for starting the lamp or lamps. The modern design of light fittings tends towards the production of the narrowest possible light fittings and as a result the space within the channel-section member is restricted to an extent such that the removal and replacement of the starter switch is difiicult.

According to the present invention there is provided a light fitting for fluorescent tubular lamps comprising a channel-section member, a cover for the open side of the channel-section member and a resilient mounting for the starter switch arranged resiliently to bias the starter switch outwardly of the channel-section member into a position projecting from the open side of the channel and facilitating the removal of the starter switch.

An example of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of part of a light fitting according to the present invention with the cover removed, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the light fitting of FIG. 1 with the cover in place.

FIG. 3 is an end view, in section, of the spring-loaded catches as taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

The light fitting includes a member of channel crosssection (part only of the member 10 having been shown) Whose open lower side has a cover 11. The cover 11 is secured to the channel-section member 10 by means of two spring-loaded catches 12 located within the channelsection member 10 close to each end thereof. Only one of the spring-loaded catches 12 is shown.

The spring-loaded catches 12 are of the type claimed and more fully described in the specification of co-pending British Patent 957,287. The head of each is arranged to pass through an individual aperture 14 in the cover and when the cover is placed in position the heads 15 snap over the edges of the apertures 14 to secure the cover 11 in position.

A V-shaped spring bracket 16 has one of its legs secured, by means of an integral tab 17, to one of the catches 12, the tab 17 passing through an aperture 17' in the catch 12 and being bent over to fix the bracket 16. The other leg of the bracket 16 has two lugs 18 to which are secured the socket 19 of a starter switch 20 for starting the lamp.

As will be seen from FIG. 1, when the cover 11 is removed the bracket 16 biases the switch 20 outwardly of the channel-section member 10 and into a projecting position in which the removal of the switch 20 from the socket is facilitated.

Referring now to FIG. 2 it can be seen that with the cover 11 in place the starter switch 20 is pressed into the channel-section member against the bias of the bracket 16. The replacement of the starter switch 20 is thus made convenient and easy despite the restricted space in which the switch 20 must be confined when the light fitting is assembled with its cover in place.

The earthing of the case of the switch 20 is effected by means of an extension 21 of one of the lugs of the bracket 16.

We claim:

1. A light fitting for fluorescent tubular lamps and its associated starter switch comprising a channel-section member, a cover for the open side of the channel-section member and a resilient mounting for the starter switch, said resilient mounting resiliently biasing said starter switch outwardly of said channel into a position projecting from the open side of the channel and facilitating the removal of the starter switch, wherein the resilient mounting comprises a bracket made of resilient metal in the general form of a V, one leg of said V being secured within said channel-section member and the other leg of said V supporting said starter switch, said cover having two spaced apertures, said fitting further comprising two spring-biased catches, one end of each catch being mounted within said channel-section member, and the other end of each catch having a head portion extending through one of said apertures and, under the influence of said spring-bias, locking said cover to said channel section member, and with a tab securing said one leg to one of said catches.

2. A light fitting for fluorescent tubular lamps and its associated starter switch comprising a channel-section member, a cover for the open side of the channel-section member and a resilient mounting for the starter switch, said resilient mounting resiliently biasing said starter switch outwardly of said channel into a position projecting from the open side of the channel and facilitating the removal of the starter switch, wherein the resilient mounting comprises a bracket made of resilient metal in the general form of a V, one leg of said V being secured within said channel-section member and the other leg of said V supporting said starter switch, said cover having two spaced apertures, said fitting further comprising two spring-biased catches, one end of each catch being mounted within said channel-section member and the other end of each catch having a head portion extending through one of said apertures and, under the influence of said spring-bias, locking said cover to said channel section member, and with a tab integral with said one leg of said V shaped bracket, said tab securing said one leg to one of said catches, wherein at least one of said legs is in electrical contact with said switch and said channel-section member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,888,714 11/1932 Erickson 339-119 2,421,967 6/ 1947 Schepmoes 240-51.11 3,132,400 5/ 1964 McDonald 29287 X FOREIGN PATENTS 924,117 3/1947 France. 603,708 4/1960 Italy.

LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner. LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Examiner. H. W. COLLINS, D. A. TONE, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A LIGHT FITTING FOR FLUORESCENT TUBULAR LAMPS AND ITS ASSOCIATED STARTER SWITCH COMPRISING A CHANNEL-SECTION MEMBER, A COVER FOR THE OPEN SIDE OF THE CHANNEL-SECTION MEMBER AND A RESILIENT MOUNTING FOR THE STARTER SWITCH, SAID RESILIENT MOUNTING RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID STARTER SWITCH OUTWARDLY OF SAID CHANNEL INTO A POSITION PROJECTING FROM THE OPEN SIDE OF THE CHANNEL AND FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF THE STARTER SWITCH, WHEREIN THE RESILIENT MOUNTING COMPRISES A BRACKET MADE OF RESILIENT METAL IN THE GENERAL FORM OF A V, ONE LEG OF SAID V BEING SECURED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL-SECTION MEMBER AND THE OTHER LEG OF SAID V SUPPORTING SAID STARTER SWITCH, SAID 